Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine) - Biosecurity New Zealand

time, the contaminating insect will spread throughout New Zealand wherever trees are
growing. There is a moderate likelihood that resulting from the spread of these wood boring
insects the unwanted consequences to the environment will be high and to the economy will
be moderate. As a result the risk estimate for wood boring insect associated with Wollemia
nobilis whole plants or root-less cuttings of greater than 5 centimetres (2 inches) stem
diameter imported from Australia is non-negligible and should be considered a hazard.
5.2.9 Assessment of Uncertainty
As the subject of this assessment is a group of insects that could potentially have a very wide
variety of biological and epidemiological characteristics. The assessment is further
complicated by the fact that no members of this insect group have been recorded as
associated with the commodity in question, namely Wollemia nobilis nursery stock in
Australia. To accommodate as far as possible these significant uncertainties the assessment
has been undertaken at a relatively generic level, focusing on general attributes of the
representative insect species included in the assessment. It is possible however, that should
an actual wood boring insect be recorded as being associated with Wollemia nobilis nursery
stock, the results of this assessment could have significantly underestimated the level or risk
posed by the organism.
To ensure that the risk management measures resulting from this assessment remain
appropriate to the risk posed by the pathway, organism associations recorded with the
commodity in the place of origin and during import into New Zealand or other countries
should be monitored.
5.3 Risk Management
5.3.1 Risk Evaluation
Since the risk estimate for wood boring insects associated with Wollemia nobilis whole plants
or root-less cuttings of greater than 5 centimetres (2 inches) stem diameter imported from
Australia is non-negligible, phytosanitary measures will need to be employed to effectively
manage the risks to reduce them to an acceptable level.
The risk estimate for wood boring insects associated with Wollemia nobilis whole plants or
root-less cuttings of less than 5 centimetres (2 inches) stem diameter, or plants in vitro,
imported from Australia is negligible and as such phytosanitary measures will not be
required.
5.3.2 Option Evaluation
5.3.2.1 Risk Management Objective
To ensure that no wood boring insects associated with Wollemia nobilis nursery stock in
Australia are:
o transplanted into the New Zealand environment with Wollemia nobilis nursery stock
imported from Australia; or
Page 54 of 193 14 March 2008 Import Risk Analysis: Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine) Araucariaceae Nursery Stock from Australia